ETHIOPIAN PM LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE HOSPITAL

Last Updated:
2017-04-21

ADDIS ABABA, April 21 (NNN-ENA) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalgn has laid the foundation stone for the Centre of Excellence Hospital here, an initiative of the Ethiopian-American Doctors Medical Group, an association of health care professionals of Ethiopian origin working in the United States.

The medical centre, being built on a 150,000-suqare-metre site in the Ayat area of the Ethiopian capital, will consist of a 300-bed hospital with full diagnostic facilities, operating rooms, laboratories, outpatient medical office building with 80 consultation rooms and a centre for cancer treatment under its first phase.

Speaking at the cornerstone-laying ceremony Thursday, Hailemariam said the construction of the proposed medical city in Ayat will be crucial to ensuring that there are well-trained professionals providing standard treatment to patients. The medical city will enable the country to reduce the burden borne by patients who are forced to seek medical treatment abroad.

Ethiopians seeking medical treatment abroad are expected to spend close to 120 million US dollars on their overseas trips.

Noting the importance of the centre, Hailemariam pledged that every support for the realization of the project would be provided.

The Chairperson of the Ethiopian-American Doctors Medical Group, Dr. Girma Tefera, said: "Now is the time to contribute to our society through our profession and experiences which we gained abroad.”

The project is also a clear showcase that Ethiopians can work co-operatively to materialize collective goals, Dr. Girma added.

The first phase of the hospital is expected to become operational in December 2019.

The EADG lconsists of a group of more than 260 health care professionals of Ethiopian origin residing in the US, Canada, Europe and other parts of Africa. -- NNN-ENA